Overview & Reviews

Mercury was a division of Ford Motor Company marketed as being somewhat more upscale than Ford. Throughout the latter part of its 71-year history, Mercury's vehicles were essentially Fords with unique styling details and special features meant to enhance their desirability relative to similar Ford products.

It all started in the 1930s, when Edsel Ford, Henry Ford's son, saw an opportunity to create an additional brand within the Ford hierarchy, one that would exist between the everyman Ford Deluxes and premium Lincoln Zephyrs. To achieve this, Edsel felt the vehicles of this new brand should offer distinctive styling along with innovative features and better capabilities. He named the new division "Mercury," after the Roman mythological god. The 1939 Mercury Eight was the division's first car. It distinguished itself from similar Ford products via a 95-horsepower engine that offered 10 more horses than the Ford V8.

The Eight proved to be a hit, with more than 155,000 sold by the early 1940s. Production stopped during World War II; after the war, the brand was realigned more closely with Lincoln. The company grew from strength to strength in the '50s, establishing itself as a maker of vehicles offering style, performance and cutting-edge technology. A dash of glamour was added to the automaker's image when James Dean appeared onscreen in a Mercury in the film Rebel Without a Cause.

The 1960s saw the introduction of Mercury's Comet and Meteor vehicles. The Comet featured diminutive dimensions and luxury accoutrements, while the Meteor was a midsize family car that followed the trend toward more reasonably sized cars. Racetrack wins boosted awareness of the Comet and helped the model make a big splash in terms of sales. By the end of the decade, the iconic Mercury Cougar, a variation of the Mustang, had been rolled out, its Eliminator version taking its place in the pantheon of legendary early muscle cars.

Hit hard by that decade's oil crisis, consumers during the 1970s were hungry for smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles. Mercury responded with a new, smaller Comet and the Bobcat, the former a fancier version of the Ford Maverick, the latter a fancier version of the Ford Pinto. The brand's sales grew during a decade that was filled with turbulence and uncertainty for many competing marques. Mercury further expanded its lineup in the '80s, this time including the small, Ford Escort-based Lynx. Mercury enjoyed success with the 1986 launch of the Sable, a fraternal twin to the Ford Taurus whose sleek, aerodynamic lines and futuristic "light bar" front end styling set it apart from the Ford.

Mercury's sales hit an all-time high during the 1990s that would never again be matched. Minivans and SUVs were a big reason for that as Mercury introduced its Villager minivan and Mountaineer SUV. Late that decade it introduced a new Cougar, which differed from its predecessors by being a front-drive sport compact that also holds the distinction of being the last Mercury that wasn't a rebadged Ford.

The years following the new millennium were challenging for the brand, as changing consumer tastes and a lack of differentiation between Mercury and Ford vehicles hurt sales. Pundits often proclaimed the end of Mercury was near, but Ford kept stating it would keep Mercury around despite offering no hope for any unique future vehicles from the brand. Finally in 2010, Ford pulled the plug on Mercury, putting an end to more than 70 years of car-making heritage.

User Reviews:

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  Marquis GS in Russia - 1993 Mercury Grand Marquis
  By max_lovyago - November 11 - 8:56 pm

  I bought this fantastic car two mounth ago and really felt in love with it! In Russia, even in Moscow there are few Mercurys, and especially Marquis. So you drive through Moscow crazy streets like a king! This car has exellent peformance, super comfort (very quiet at the road) and very powerful AC (yes, our summers are hot - 100 F*). My cars mileage is 89 460, but it has contract motor and new transmition - so like new one. Its very pity thst we have few good roads, and maximum speed limit is 74 mph =( So, i want to say thanks to ford, who made such extraordinary car!

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  I love the car! - 1997 Mercury Grand Marquis
  By Nice Car - November 11 - 3:16 am

  I am a women so the dealership was trying to sell me a Pontiac, they had to wash it so they gave me a Marquis to drive for a day. The looks didnt turn me on, but when I got in the car and started driving it I was sold. I never let them take it back. I have had the care for 2 years and I have driven back and forth from state to state and just keeping regular oil changes the car works great. I cant wait to get another one. A newer one of course

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  Solidly built with roomy interior - 2005 Mercury Mountaineer
  By S.K.LAHIRI - November 10 - 12:23 am

  I have recently purchased 2005 (Dec, 05) Mountaineer at Dubai (M/East) with possible all options like leather interior, rev. parking sensor, alloy wheel, 6 CD changer, 8" DVD etc. except moonroof. It gives me 14- 15L/100KM av which includes highway and city driving. Although it has a sluggish response for acceleration, overall safe and roomy feeling with all around clear view makes it a pleasure for driving. While shifting is slightly noticeable while AC is on, otherwise it is totally silky smooth. Its AC is powerful and responsive. I only regret that it does not have Xenon headlamps and nor as an option. Same goes for a retractable antenna. It is a commendable car

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  Excellent Sales Rep car - 2001 Mercury Grand Marquis
  By dwightex - November 6 - 9:33 pm

  Car will hold 4 or 5 persons with luggage. Car handles well on the freeway, very stable, very smooth, very reliable, very safe. I have origional rear brakes at 86000 miles. I get 20 mpg over the life of the car. Virtually NO PROBLEMS over the last 4 years, bulletproof reliable. A keeper And all for $20,000 total

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  my mariner - 2006 Mercury Mariner Hybrid
  By steve - November 6 - 1:40 am

  I love this SUV. It handles well and feels like a v6. The instrumentaion is cool and the nav system is great.

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  Its my 4th Sable - Enough Said? - 2005 Mercury Sable
  By Marie Tedeschi - November 5 - 1:06 pm

  I love my Sable. It is the fourth one that I have leased and I would not hesitate to lease it again at lease end. It gives me everything I want and more. It is high on performance, looks good and not bad on economy. I cant say enough about the comfort I have in using the Sable. I love it, love it, love it.

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  2002 Mercury Mountaineer, 4.6L V8, 5-A, AWD. - 2002 Mercury Mountaineer
  By car_enthusiast - November 3 - 8:28 am

  Wow, after reading so many terrible reviews about this suv, I must say I am a very fortunate owner then. (3rd owner to precise). My 4.6 has well over 120,000 miles on it and I never had any transmission problems. (Yes, never). The tranny shifts fast and has good gear ratios which enable this suv to have really quick acceleration. And all of the people that say this car has a terrible fuel economy probably drive too aggresively. We took this car out for a very long highway trip and we averaged over 20mpg during the trip and our car had 4-5 people inside, full trunk of heavy bags, and our avg. speed was over 70mph. Mixed Mpg with mostly city driving ranges from low to high teens.

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  The Great One - 2007 Mercury Milan
  By Les - November 2 - 1:40 pm

  The Milan has to be the best car for the money. Ford really got this one right. The ride, looks and performance are all better than expectations. My wife and I looked at the Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry, Hyundai something or other and the Buicks. Not one of them came close to what we got with the Milan. You must drive this car before you make a decision about any other car. Get the V6 Premier. You will not regret it.

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  I love this truck - 1999 Mercury Mountaineer
  By hhunter - November 1 - 10:00 am

  I bought this Mntr last year and have enjoyed almost every day since. I agree with theother posting about the el;ectrical problems, they seem to happen. I cannot see my radio lights at all. I wish the middle compartment opened from the side instead of straight up, it is annoying. The gas mileage is a bite also. The vehichle drives great and looks awesome. The value has dropped significantly in the last year which is another downside. I would buy it again, but a six not an eight cylinder.

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  2008 Mercury Hybrid - 2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid
  By JCB - October 29 - 7:00 pm

  Very nice luxury SUV with good value. Good looking vehicle. Interior is quite well-done. Drive is much more spirited than anticipated. Good in ice and snow. Excellent mileage. Great audio package. Navigation feature is quite handy and easy to use. Transmission takes getting used to but is not a problem. Would purchase again without question